Full Notification

WILDFIRE UPDATE: Jones Road Wildfire - Ocean & Lacey Townships, Ocean County At 12 p.m. on Monday, April 28, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service achieved 75% containment of a 15,300-acre wildfire burning in the Ocean County Natural Lands Trust’s Forked River Mountains Wilderness Area. The fire was initially spotted from the Cedar Bridge Fire Tower at 9:45 a.m. on Tuesday, April 22. On the evening of April 22 the wildfire crossed the Garden State Parkway, triggering the evacuation of approximately 5,000 residents in Ocean and Lacey townships. Additionally, Route 9 and Route 532 (Wells Mills Road) were closed early on in the firefight. One commercial building was destroyed in the fire, along with multiple outbuildings and vehicles throughout the fire area. A complete damage assessment is ongoing. A thorough and extensive investigation conducted by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Arson Squad, New Jersey Forest Fire Service, Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office and New Jersey State Fire Marshal’s Office determined cause of the fire to be incendiary by an improperly extinguished bonfire. A Waretown man was charged with aggravated arson and arson in connection with Jones Road Wildfire. Forest Fire Service crews will remain on scene for the next several days to continue to improve containment lines and address areas of concern until significant precipitation occurs to ensure public safety. The Forest Fire Service continues to receive assistance from the New Jersey Army National Guard who provided two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters which are capable of dropping 660 gallons of water each. Smoke is expected to remain present until significant rain falls over the fire area. Visitors to the area should exercise caution, as trees within the fire area may be weakened. This will be the final update for this incident unless significant developments occur. SIZE & CONTAINMENT 🔥 15,300 acres 🔥 75% contained STRUCTURES THREATENED ⚠️ 4 structures threatened ✅ All evacuations lifted PROPERTY DAMAGE ⚠️ 1 commercial building destroyed ⚠️ Multiple outbuildings and vehicles destroyed ⚠️ A complete damage assessment is underway ROADS AFFECTED ⚠️ Unimproved roadways within the fire perimeter remain closed RESOURCES DEPLOYED 🚒 Forest Fire Service fire engines, bulldozers, helicopters and ground crews FIRE CAUSE 🔥 A Waretown man has been charged with aggravated arson and arson in connection with Jones Road Wildfire. Learn more: https://www.facebook.com/NJForestFireService/posts/pfbid0PKULt9w7YRDjXopauP3qbbnrELitmCyHrnBcsBq6prWgtuHcUDAFyWNqCDZQPGSHl NEXT UPDATE ⏰ Final update for this incident unless significant developments occur. NO DRONES IN FIRE ZONES Please remember, “No Drones in Fire Zones - If YOU fly, WE can't!” More info: https://www.facebook.com/NJForestFireService/posts/pfbid02XeCUXmgBdqXSqbZE3d3roqQb3EFkkFKRD9xkav4VYaHKWzL4Mym9HoVHMdPGUpvwl ----------------------- Helpful Wildfire Terminology 🔥 Wildfire - An uncontrolled fire burning the different types of vegetation that cover the land. A wildfire is considered a “major wildfire” after it exceeds 100 acres in size. 🔥 Containment - When reporting on a wildfire a percentage of containment will be given, which will state how much of the fireline has been completed. 🔥 Backfire - A fire intentionally set along the interior edge of a fireline by Forest Fire Service staff to consume fuel in the path of a wildfire and/or to change the direction of force of a fire’s convection column. 🔥 Fireline - The part of a containment or control line that is scraped or dug to mineral soil. 🔥 Threatened - Critical infrastructure, roads, homes and commercial buildings that are in the vicinity of a wildfire. #NJFFS #NJForestFireService #NewJerseyDEP